The original work is a fantasy light novel by Kei Sasane, "You and I's Last Battlefield, or the Holy War That Begins the World," commonly known as "Kimisen." It has been published by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko since 2017, and was adapted into a manga in Young Animal in 2018. An anime adaptation is scheduled to begin airing in October 2020. After the great witch Nebulis plunged the Empire into flames, the military state "Empire" and the witch nation "Nebulis Imperial Court" engaged in an endless war for world dominance. On the battlefield, the protagonist Iska, a soldier of the Empire, and Alice, the "Ice Calamity Witch" and royalty of the witch nation, meet. Despite their antagonistic relationship, the two are drawn to each other and realize they share the same goals. However, their relationship is like that of Romeo and Juliet, and it was impossible for them to be together. Despite their fateful encounter, they end up heading to the battlefield for their own purposes. This time, ahead of the anime adaptation, we'd like to share a fascinating synopsis of the story. This post contains spoilers, so if you haven't seen it yet, be careful!
A Summon from the Eight Great Apostles, Who Hold the Invisible Will
Unit 907 is poring over a vast amount of materials in preparation for their mission. Iska then receives a summons from the Eight Great Apostles. Iska and his mentor are most wary of the Eight Great Apostles, not the Nebulis Imperial Court or the Spiritualists, but the Invisible Will (Imperial Diet). It's a fishy story, but since they are the ones who freed Iska from prison, he has no choice but to go. Iska makes up his mind and shows up at the Imperial Diet. Contrary to what he expected, Iska is praised as an exceptional talent and is told that he is being considered for re-promotion to Saint Apostle. However, Iska was once imprisoned for treason. He is told that a special achievement is required to be re-promoted. That achievement is to "capture the Ice Calamity Witch." As an Imperial soldier, handing Alice over to the military is a legitimate mission, but Iska, who is drawn to Alice regardless of friend or foe, is conflicted about this mission. Is there no other way forward for the Empire and Nebulis other than conflict? In order to find a clue, Iska wants to see Alice again.
Alice was thinking the same thing.
Alice, who had Rin investigate Iska, learned that Iska was an Apostle Saint. However, Alice, who had already researched the Apostle Saints, had never heard of Iska. After being promoted to Apostle Saint, Iska was imprisoned without ever serving on the battlefield, so there was no record of him engaging in combat with the Spirit Unit. Learning that he was imprisoned for helping a witch escape, Alice wonders why they are now trying to capture her. Iska carefully chooses not to call Alice a "witch" but a "spirit user." Wanting to know the real Iska, Alice also wanted to meet him again.
There's no need for a rendezvous for the two to meet
Iska decides to be taken to a neutral city by his captain, Misumis, without telling Jin or Nene. Not knowing who he'll meet, Misumis asks him to tell her the truth. Iska doesn't actually have a rendezvous, and believes they'll somehow meet when they get there... However, since they end up meeting, it seems these two are truly destined. Misumis can't hide her surprise when she discovers that the person she's supposed to meet is none other than the Ice Witch. Mismis couldn't believe this sudden turn of events, but after witnessing the ice elemental magic, she realized that she was truly the Witch of Ice.
The two were aiming for the same future
After thoroughly investigating Iska, Alice asks him why he let the elementalist escape. Iska's goal remains the same: to capture a pureblooded Nebulis and use him as a hostage to force the Imperial Court to enter into peace negotiations. However, the captured spirit users were young and only weak spirits were possessed by them, so Iska thought they would be of no use in peace negotiations and let them go. However, Alice said that Iska's methods would not change anything. Nebulis's hatred for the Empire runs deep, and capturing Alice alone would not be enough to bring them to the peace negotiation table. Alice realized that Iska was, like her, "someone who fights to end the war," and ordered him to become her subordinate.
Two people with the same goal, but unable to walk together
Everyone is surprised by Alice's outrageous statement. If Iska becomes Alice's subordinate, his status will be guaranteed, and they can work toward the same future together. Iska also knows that Alice is not lying. However, Iska refuses the proposal for two reasons. One is that he has family and friends in the Empire. The other is that the Empire is a mechanical nation. Even if Nebulis were to offer peace negotiations by taking the Eight Great Apostles as prisoners, the Empire would ignore the prisoners and refuse to enter into peace negotiations. In fact, some were even happy to have a seat available. In the end, neither the Empire nor Nebulis agreed to peace negotiations using their prisoners, and the two nations remained at odds. While looking toward the same future, Iska and Alice continued to live as enemies.
The Resurrection of the Ancient Spirit, the Great Witch Nebulis
Realizing that they could not join forces, the two resolved to take up their swords and fight each other. Suddenly, they felt an incredible impact... Looking up, they saw the Founder, who was supposed to be sleeping underground, resurrected. As soon as the Founder sees Iska's Star Sword, he attacks, driven by resentment. Seeing this attack, Iska orders Mismis to evacuate. The great witch Nebulis, who singlehandedly plunged the imperial capital into flames 100 years ago, has been resurrected.
Down with the Empire!!
Witnessing the Founder's resurrection, Alice's mother begins to see a plan to defeat the Empire. The Founder's resurrection causes the various intentions to intersect.
Because their relationship is so important, they need to settle this alone
Ever since meeting Iska in a neutral city, Alice had been unable to get him out of her head and felt a sense of unease. As the princess of her own country, Alice realized that this was no good and came to see Iska with the intention of severing her relationship with him. In order to settle the battle that was interrupted in Neureka, she wore the same formal attire and clothes as before, without informing her mother and telling Rin not to interfere. Alice wanted to settle this alone, without anyone interfering. However, the sudden resurrection of the Founding Ancestor ruined everything.
Spirit Rampage
The progenitor even attacks Alice and Rin, who are spirit users. This is due to the spirit's automatic defense. Just as humans instinctively protect their hands when touched by fire, spirits also have a tendency to protect their hosts from danger. Although the progenitor has been resurrected, it is still asleep, and the spirit is trying to protect the defenseless progenitor from external enemies. Alice and Rin are caught up in the spirit's rampage, and the long, pointless attack continues.
I will never forgive you!!
The spirits' rampage subsides, and Iska and the others emerge from the ice shield. Alice declares to the Founder that she will settle the matter herself, but the Founder refuses to listen. The Founder, vowing to eliminate anyone who gets in his way, unleashes a devastating attack, severely injuring Rin. Seeing Rin near death, Alice despairs, but Iska quickly instructs Mismis to take Rin to the hospital. Iska's response, along with the Founder's injury to Rin, leads Alice to realize that Nebulis's spirit magic produces no results and that she is a true witch. Isuka agrees. The saying goes, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," and this is exactly what happened. Their seemingly impossible alliance finally became a reality.
The "Space-Time Spirit" Possessed by the Great Witch Nebulis
It's generally accepted that humans only possess one spirit, and that spirit magic can only interfere with one phenomenon. However, the Founder possessed the spirits of fire, ice, and earth. Not much is known about the Founder's spirit, all we know is that it's called the "Space-Time Spirit." Without a grasp of the spirit's true nature, Isuka and his team have no chance of victory. Based on the star pattern found under the wings, the two believe that the wings are the spirits of time and space themselves, and attempt to cut them off, separating the Progenitor from the spirits of time and space.
The Great Witch Nebulis Finally Awakens
Just as Iska and Alice are about to cut off the wings, the Progenitor awakens from its slumber. The Progenitor attacks Iska, who is holding the holy sword, but when Alice blocks the attack, the Progenitor's attack is turned against Alice. The Founder Spirit is the oldest spirit born from the core of the planet. It remembers all events on the planet and summons them from beyond time and space, hence its name, the "Space-Time Spirit." Rather than possessing multiple spirits, the Space-Time Spirit remembers all events on the planet. Iska and Alice were helpless against the Founder's attacks, which controlled all events at will, and could only do their best to flee.
The Great Witch Nebulis and Iska's Master Cromwell
The Founder knew Iska's master, Cromwell. It's hard to imagine Cromwell was alive 100 years before the Founder fell asleep, but there's no doubt they share some kind of connection. It's also interesting that Iska refers to it as a "star sword," while the Founder refers to it as a "holy sword."
They get along... isn't that enough?
The Founder's kamaitachi is aiming for Iska's arm. Alice repeatedly pleads with him to let go, but Iska refuses. While Alice said that they were essentially enemies and not someone who would reach out to her at the risk of getting hurt, Iska only extended a hand because they got along well. Alice is angry at the Founder for interrupting their decision and then hurting Rin. Iska is the same. When the two met in the neutral city, they liked the same things and got along very well, and there was no relationship between "Imperial soldier" and "Nebulis Imperial Court spirit user." There was no need for a reason for the two to cooperate, the mere fact that they "get along well" was enough.
Iska's Counterattack
Iska and Alice corner the Founder with Alice's spirit arts. However, the situation is reversed by the "Space-Time Destruction" from the Heavenly Staff. The Founder unleashes a devastating blow that shifts the terrain, stating that it is not yet complete. The "Space-Time Destruction" from the Heavenly Staff is accompanied by atmospheric turbulence and the howling of wind, and cannot be blocked even by a holy sword capable of cutting through spirit arts. Alice blocks the Heavenly Staff's attack and falls, leaving Iska unable to block the next blow. However, Iska refuses to give up. Not wanting to let Alice's one last defense go to waste, he launches a counterattack.
The Swordsman and the Spirit User Face the Great Witch Nebulis
As Isuka approaches, the Founder attacks with countless invisible blades. However, Isuka's training allows him to sense and block the attacks, as they are spirit magic. The Founder is a little surprised, but he cannot block the "Space-Time Destruction" attack. Just as the Progenitor was about to unleash his "Space-Time Destruction," Iska used his "Hyouka" as a shield to block the attack and successfully cut off the Progenitor's wings. Alice had given Iska the Ice Seed when they held hands. Believing in Alice's ice shield, Iska risked everything when he unleashed his "Space-Time Destruction." The Progenitor separated from the Space-Time Spirit and fell back asleep, and Iska and Alice barely managed to win.
The anime is finally here! Check out the details! Summary of Part 2 (Spoiler Alert!!)
What did you think? In the second half, we focused on the battle against the great witch Nebulis, the progenitor of the elementalists. Until the progenitor appeared, Iska and Alice were never going to cooperate, but they ultimately trusted each other and were able to defeat the progenitor! They ended up fighting together, but you're probably wondering what their relationship will be like from then on. Enjoy Part 2 to find out!
